Grinding machine steady rest



H A. SlLVEN 2,3@9,g GRINDING MACHINE-STEADYREST Filed May 5,1944 2 Sheets-Shet 1 HERBERT A. 5/1. VEN

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. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May '5, 1944 EERT A. fi/Lvslv Patented Apr. 30, 1946 GRINDING MACHINE STEADY REST Herbert A. Silven,

Worcester, Mass, .ass'ignor to Norton Company, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 5, 1944, Serial No. 534,241

11 Claims.

This invention relates to grinding machines, and more particularly to a steadyrest for supporting and steadying a work piece during a grinding operation.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and thoroughly practical grinding machine steadyrest. Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically operated steadyboth of the steadyrest shoes are pivotally mounted and arranged to be swung to an inoperative position so as to allow maximum clearance between the work and .steadyrest parts when in an inoperative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rigidly supported bridge-type steadyrest which bridges the work supporting table and is arranged to be rigidly fixed to the base of the machine so as to support a work piece at a point opposite the grinding wheel. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention,

Fig. l is a fragmentary cross sectional view through a crankshaft grinding machine showing the improved bridge-type steadyrest in elevation;

2 is a fragmentary end elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the improved steadyrest, having parts broken away and shown in section to clarify the construction; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken approximately on the line 3-1 of Fig. 2.

A steadyrest has been illustrated in the drawings mounted on a grinding machine base Ill. The base I supports 'a longitudinally reciprocable work supporting table H which is supported on a V-way l2 and a flat way 13 formed on the base Ill.

The improved steadyrest is particularly adapted for use on a crankshaft grinding machine for grinding crankpins such as shown, for example, in U. S. Patent No. 2,151,666 dated March 21, 1939. In. a machine of this type, the steadyrest is preferably located in a fixed position relative to the base I!) opposite the operative face of a grinding wheel M so that the steadyrest shoes may support a crankpin I5 to be ground. The steadyrest shoes are arranged so that they may be moved to an inoperative position to provide a maximum clearance, when in an inoperative position, for the rotatably positioned work piece mounted on the work table I I.

In order to provide a rigid support for the steadyrest shoes to steady a crankpin l5 against vibration during a grinding operation, a steadyrest frame I6 is provided in the form of a bridgeshaped member which straddles the work supporting table H, The frame It. is provided with an enlarged rectangularly shaped portion I! which is rigidly fixed to the front of the machine base by a plurality of screws I 8. The bridgeshaped frame I 6 is provided with a rearwardl and downwardly extending arm l9 (Fig. 1) which is fixedly mounted by a plurality of screws to a projection 2| formed on the rear of the machine base I0,

In the preferred form of this invention, in order adequately to support and steady work pieces such as the crankpins of an automobile crankshaft, a steadyrest of the two-bearing shoe type is provided in which the work is supported and steadied at a point diametrically opposite the line of contact between the grinding wheel Hi and the crankpin l5 and is also supported and steadied at a point below the work axis and adjacent to the line of contact between the wheel l4 and work piece 15.

As illustrated in the drawings, the steadyrest is provided with a work steadying shoe which is mounted on the upper end of an arm 26, the lower end of which is pivotally supported by a stud 2! on the steadyrest frame [6. The steadyrest shoe 25 is arranged to engage the work piece l5 at a point substantially diametrically opposite to the line of contact between the grinding wheel l4 and the work piece l5. The shoe 25 is held in an operative position by means of a pivotally mounted latch arm 28 which is pivotally supported by a stud 29. The forward end of the arm 28 is provided with a notch 30 which is arranged to engage the upper and left-hand surfaces of the arm 25 to hold the shoe 25 in an operative position,

In order to facilitate adjustment of the shoe 25 to position the same at the start of a grinding operation and also to facilitate adjustment of the shoe 25 so that it remains in operative supporting engagement with the work as the work is ground, the pivot stud 29 is preferably sup,- ported adjacent to the right-hand end of a horizontal1y adjustable slide 3| which is slidably mounted within the steadyrest frame I6. An adjusting screw 32 is screw threaded through a nut 33 supported by the steadyrest frame I6 and is provided at its right-hand end with a head 34 which engages a notch 35 formed in the lefthand end of the slide 3|. An actuating knob 35 is adjustably supported on the outer end of the screw 32. By manipulation of the knob 35, the screw 32, the slide 3| and the latch arm 28 may be adjusted horizontally to position the work steadying shoe 25 in the desired relationship relative to the work piece I5,

A tension spring 31 is connected between a stud 33 mounted on the latch arm 28 and a stud 39 =which is fixed relative to the steadyrest fram It to facilitate holding the arm in a latched position and also moving the arm 28 to an inoperative position.

The steadyrest shoe 25 is arranged to be swung into an inoperative position-25a, as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 2. The latch arm 28 is also arranged to be swung to'an inoperative position 28a (Fig. 2).

The steadyrest is also provided with a second work steadying shoe 40 which is arranged to engage the work piece I 5 at a point below the work axis and adjacent to the line of contact between the grinding wheel I4 and the work piece |5. The shoe 43 is mounted on the right-hand end of a pivotally mounted supporting arm 4|, the other end of whichis pivotally supported by a stud 42. An actuating arm 43 is pivotally supported on the stud 21 and carries a rotatabl mounted roller 44 on a stud 45 mounted adjacent to the upper end of the arm 43. When the actuating arm 43 is swung in a clockwise direction into the position illustrated in Fig. 2. the roller 44 engages the underside of the arm 4| and swings the arm 4| together with the steadyrest shoe 40 into an operative position. The actuating arm 43 isarranged to swing to an inoperative position 430. with the roller 44 assuming the position 44a, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. The steadyrest shoe 40 swings downwardly in a clockwise direction into position 43a with its supporting arm assuming the position 4|a, as shown in broken lines in Fig, 2.

- The actuating arm 43 is preferably hydrauilically actuated so that it may be readily swung to and from an operative position. A hydraulically operated cylinder 46 is fixedly supported relative to the steadyrest frame It and contains a slidably mounted piston 4'! which is connected to one end of a piston rod 48. The other end of the piston rod 48 is provided with a fixed collar 43 which is connected by means of a stud 5!! with the left-hand end of a connecting rod 5|. The other end of the connecting rod 5| is connected by a stud 52 which is supported on the actuating arm When it is desired to move the actuating arm 43 to an inoperative position, fluid under pressure is admitted through a pipe 53 into a cylinder chamber 54 formed at the right-hand end of the cylinder 46 to cause the piston 41 to move toward the left (Fig. 2). During this movement of the actuating arm 43 in piston 41, fluid within a cylinder chamber 55 exhausts through a pipe 56. When the piston 41 moves toward the left, a corresponding movement is imparted through the connecting rod 5| to swing the actuating arm 43 in a counterclockwise direction into position 43a. When it is desired to move the actuating arm 43 to an operative position, fluid under pressure is admitted through the pipe 56 into the cylinder chamber 55 to move the piston 41 toward the" right; so as'to'swing the a clockwise direction into the full line position shown in Fig. 2.

justment to the In order to facilitate adjustment of the steadyrest shoe 40 in setting up the steadyrest and also in maintaining the shoe 4D in operative supporting and steadying engagement with the work piece l5 as it is ground, the stud 42 is preferably adjustably mounted so that the arm 4| may be rocked on the roller 44 as a fulcrum to raise and lower the shoe 43 as desired. The stud 42 is preferably supported on the upper end of a slidably mounted member 63. The member 60 is provided at its lower end with a roller 6| supported thereon by a stud 62. The roller 6| is positioned to engage a cam face 63 which is formed on a horizontally adjustable slide 64. A compression spring 65 within the slide member 30 normally tends to urge the slide 60 in an upward direction so that the roller 6| is maintained in operative engagement with the cam face 63. The slide 64 is preferably adjusted. by means of an adjusting screw 55 which is screw threaded into a nut 65 fixedly supported i the frame N5 of the steadyrest. A head 61 is formed on the right-hand end of the screw 65 and is arranged to engage a notch 68 formed in the left-hand end of the slide 64. An actuating knob 69 is adjustabl mounted on the outer end of the screw 65. Itwill be readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure that by manipulation of the knob.89, the screw 65 and slide54 may be adjusted toimpart a swinging adarm 4| about the roller 44 a a fulcrum to adjust the steadyrest. shoe 40 relative to the work piece l5.

It is desirable to provide connections between the actuating arm 4i3'and the arm 26 so that both of the steadyrest shoes 25 and 40 may be swung to and from operative positions by movement of the actuating arm 43. The actuating arm 43 is provided with a stud 10 ,which rides within an arcuate shaped slot formed in the arm 26. A compression spring 12 is contained within an aperture 13 formed in the arm 26 and is arranged to be engaged by. the stud 10 when th actuating arm 43 is swung in a clockwise direction to move the shoe 4!] into an operative position so that at thesame time the stud 10 operating through the compression spring I2 will swing the arm 26 into an operative position, as shown in'Fig, 2. y

In order that the shoe 25 may be readil moved to an inoperative position in timed relation with the movement of the actuating arm 43, a suitable latch releasing mechanism is provided comprising a slidably mounted plunger 15 which is slidably mounted within the arm 26. The plunger 15 is normally held in a'downward position by means of a compression spring 16 which is interposed between a shoulder 11 formed on the arm 26 and a shoulder 18 formed on the plunger 75. The lower end of the slide 15 is provided with a cam face 19 which is arranged in-the path of the stud I0.

When it is desired to move-the steadyrest shoes 25 and 43 to an inoperative position, fluid under pressure .isadmitted, asabove described, into the cylinder chamber 54 to cause the actuating arm to move in a counterclockwise direction, which movement shifts the roller i lalso in a counterclockwise direction to allow the steadyrest shoe to swing downwardly in a clockwise direction out of engagement with the work piece !5. The stud it engages the cam face it and moves the plunger it in an upward direction so that its end portion assumes the position 752) (Fig. 2), which movement lifts the latch arm 28. Continued movement of the actuating arm 43 in a counterclockwise direction through the stud ill will swing the arm 26 together with. the work steadying shoe 25 in a counterclockwise direction into positions 250; and Ella so that both of the steadyrest shoes 25 and ii! are in inoperative positions, allowing a maximum clearance between the work and the steadyrest parts so that the work table supporting a massive crankshaft may be readily traversed longitudinally to position the next crankpin in an operative position for a grinding operation. During the swinging movement of the arm 26 to an inoperative position, the released tension of he spring 3'! serves to swing the latch arm 28 into position 23a so that it also is in an inoperative position remote from the work piece.

The operation. of this steadyrest will be readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure, assuming the steadyrest shoes 53 and 25 to be in an inoperative position, such as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, that is, the shoes being in positions 2511. and When it is desired to move the shoes into an operative position, fluid under pressure is admitted through the pipe 55 into the cylinder chamber to move the piston il toward the right into the full line position illustrated in Fig. 2. This movement of the piston 57 serves through the piston rod El and the stud 52 to swing the actuating arm #33 in a clockwise direction, which movement, through the roller M, swings the arm at and the steadyrest shoe 4!] in a counterclockwise direction into the operative position illustrated in Fig. 2. The movement of the actuating arm 3, through the stud Hi and the compression spring 72, serves to swing the arm 26 also in a clockwise direction into the operative full line position shown in Fig. 2 with the steadyrest shoe 25 in an operative position relative to the work piece iii. During this swinging movement of the arm 25, the latch arm is also swung upwardly in a counterclockwise direction by movement of the arm 25 and shoe 25 against the tension. of the spring 3'! until the notch may drop into a latched position to latch and hold the arm as together with the shoe 25 in an operative position. After the shoes 25 and ti are in operative positions, they may be adjusted precisely to initially set up the work rest by manipulation of the actuating knobs 85 and 65!, and the steadyrest shoes may be maintained in the desired supporting and steadying engagement with the work piece.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention apparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A grinding machine steadyrest having a frame. a work steadying shoe pivotally mounted on said frame which is arranged to engage and steady the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a second work steadying shoe independently and pivotally mounted on said frame which is arranged to engage and steady the work at a point below the work axis and adjacent to the line of contact between the grinding wheel and work, said shoes normally being in an inoperative position, and a movably mounted actuator arm which is arranged simultaneously to move both of said shoes into an operative position.

2. A grinding machine steadyrest having a frame, a work steadying shoe to engage and steady the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a movable support on said frame to support said shoe, a second work steadying shoe to engage and steady the work at a point below the work axis and adjacent to the line of contact between the grinding wheel and work, an independent movable support on said frame to support said second shoe. said shoes normally being swung to an inoperative position, and a pivotally mounted actuator arm on said frame which is operatively connected simultaneously to move both of said movable supports and shoes to an operative position.

3. A grinding machine steadyrest having a frame, a work steadying shoe arranged to engage and steady the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a pivotally mounted arm on said frame to support said shoe, a second work steadying shoe to engage and steady the work at a point below the work axis and adjacent to the line of contact between the grinding wheel and work, a second independent pivotally mounted arm on said frame to support said second shoe, said shoes normally being maintained in an inoperative position remote from the work piece, a pivotally mounted actuator arm on said frame, and means including a piston and cylinder which are operatively connected to swing said actuator arm simultaneously to move both of said arms and shoes to an operative position.

4. A grinding machine steadyrest having a frame, a pivotally mounted work steadying shoe arranged to engage and steady the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a latch to hold said shoe in an operative position, a second pivotally mounted work steadying shoe to engage and steady the work at a point below the work axis and adjacent to the line of contact between the grinding wheel and work, and a pivotally mounted actuator arm which is arranged to move both of said shoes to an operative position, said actuator arm serving to hold said second shoe in an operative position, and said shoes being arranged to swing to an inoperative position when the actuator arm is moved to an inoperative position.

5. A grinding machine steadyrest having a frame, a pivotally mounted work steadying shoe to engage the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a latch to hold said shoe in an operative position, a second pivotally mounted work s eadying shoe to engage and steady the work at a point below the work axis and adjacent to the line of contact between the grinding wheel and work, a pivotally mounted actuator arm which is arranged to move both of said shoes to an operative position, and a slidably-mounted camactuated latch-releasing plunger which is actuated by movement of said actuator arm to an inoperative position to release said latch to facilitate movement of the first steadyrest shoe to an inoperative position.

6. A grinding machine steadyrest having a frame, a pivotally mounted work steadying shoe arranged to engage and steady the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a pivotally mounted latch arm to hold said shoe in an operative position, a second pivotally mounted work steadying shoe to engage and steady the work at a point below the work axis and adjacent to the line of contact between the grinding wheel and work, a pivotally mounted actuator arm which is arranged to move both of said shoes to an inoperative position, a, pivotally mounted latch arm to hold said first shoe in an operative position, a slidably-mounted cam-actuated latch-releasing plunger, and a stud on said actuator arm which is arranged to engage said cam and actuate said releasing plunger during movement of the actuator arm toward an inoperative position to facilitate movement of the first steadyrest shoe to an inoperative position.

'7. A grinding machine steadyrest having a frame, a pivotally mounted work steadying shoe to engage and steady the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a latch to hold said shoe in an operative position, a second pivotally mounted work steadying shoe to engage and steady the work at a point below the work axis and adjacent to the line of contact between the grinding wheel and work, a pivotally mounted actuator arm which is arranged to move both of said shoes to an operative position, and manually operable means to adjust the position of said latch relative to said frame so as to adjust the first steadyrest shoe relative to the work piece.

8. A grinding machine steadyrest having a frame, a pivotally mounted work steadying shoe to engage and steady the work at a point opposite the grinding wheel, a pivotally mounted latch arm tohold said shoe in an operative position, a second pivotally mounted work steadying shoe to engage and steady the work at a point below the work axis and adjacent to the line of contact between the grinding wheel and work, a pivotally mounted actuator arm to move both of said shoes to an operative position, an adjustable slide to support said latch arm, and manually operable means to adjust the position of said slide so as to adjust the first steadyrest shoe relative to the work piece.

9. In a grinding machine steadyrest as claimed in claim 8, the combination with the parts and f atures therein specified, of an adjustable slide to support the second pivotally mounted shoe, and manually operable means to adjust the position or" said slide so as to adjust the second steadyrest shoe relative to the work piece.

10. In a grinding machine steadyrest as claimed in claim 8, the combination with the parts and features therein specified, of an adjustable slide to support the second pivotally mounted shoe, and a manually adjustable cam to move said slide so as to adjust the position of the second steadyrest shoe relative to the work piece.

11. In a grinding machine steadyrest as claimed in claim 8, the combination with the parts and features therein specified, of a vertically adjustable slide to support the second pivotally mounted shoe, a roller mounted adjacent to the lower end of said slide, a horizontally adjustable slide having a cam face which is arranged operatively to engage said roller, and means including a manually adjustable nut and screw mechanism to actuate said horizontally movable slide to facilitate adjustment of the second steadyrest shoe relative to the work piece.

HERBERT A. SILVEN. 

